Editor’s Note: I admit it, I’ve been holding out on you a bit.

U-Pick Blueberry season is ON. Blue Haven Farm at Anderton and Idiens Way in Comox is open daily now and McClintock’s on Dove Creek Road expects to be ready for blueberry picking this week.

Raspberries are already being picked out at McClintock’s and ASHberry Farm in Royston and should be ready to go at Asphrington Farms on the Old Island Highway just north of Courtenay this week.

Just a note, locals are swarming the u-pick locales because of the late season. So, if you are planning to pick, have the kids ready to go and get out the door at the crack of dawn, as many of these locations are picked out before Noon every day.

On to today’s post:

I had a different walk ready to post today. But, we wandered out to Oyster River Nature Park in Black Creek yesterday in preparation for this week’s NeighbourWood Walk and, with the sound of giggles coming from kiddos playing in the river, the gorgeous sunshine and absolute coolness of this trail, I figured today was the perfect time to share this gem.

Tucked away on a Black Creek back road, Oyster River Nature Park is a spot you don’t find unless you’re looking for it. But, don’t think that means your walk in the woods will be a solitary one. Locals and tourists who enjoy Summer breaks perched in an inner tube just down from their oceanfront cabins have long known about this hidden gem.

It’s the perfect spot for families for so many reasons. But, let’s start with getting there. Driving up the Old Island Highway toward Campbell River, you turn right on the road at the Oyster River Discovery Foods and follow it back past the grocery store to the left, where the parking lot and trail head are visible. You may want to stop at the store or make a coffee/pizza run at the cafe there. I love that we can stock up right near the trail head. It makes life so much easier (but, don’t expect a public restroom).

There’s a latrine at the beginning of the trail and I highly recommend a potty stop before heading out on the trail as there is A LOT to explore here and that’s it in the bathroom universe. Expect to have to explain the “bathroom art” as our daughter deemed the rather crude graffiti inside the toilet, though.

Then, head out down the Ferguson Trail (to the left) to begin your adventure.

We’ve done a lot of hiking in our lives, and forests often blend together in terms of look and feel. But Ken, who is the toughest critic in terms of interestingness, found every inch of this second-growth ecosystem really amazing.

Bordered on one side by UBC Farmland offering gorgeous country vistas and the Oyster River’s confluence with the Georgia Straight on the other, the diversity of ground cover, the dichotomy of farm versus water as well as amazing giant black cottonwoods and grand firs make for some great sights.

Following Ferguson Trail, you’ll end up wandering along Ridge Trail a bit and then spot a gorgeous new wooden bridge to the right that now connects trails that had never linked up until recently, making for a great, shorter loop for tiny legs.

If you are up for a longer adventure, though, skip the bridge and keep heading out to the ocean on the trail you were on, walking along the barbed-wire fence line between you and UBC Farmland, finally getting to Jack Hames Trail.

From jumping giant roots to exploring decaying tree stumps, there is so much here for kiddos to discover in the forest. The farther you get along this trail, the less stroller friendly it becomes. So, if you are planning to do this portion of the walk, backpacks are a good trade off.

There are some narrow parts here and some spots where erosion makes for some danger. So, be alert and keep the kiddos toward the inside of the trail a bit. Once you hit the Jack Hames Trail, you’ll emerge quickly into sunshine and can then walk along the waterfront all the way to Salmon Point. This portion of the walk is really lovely and, at low tide, is great fun for the kiddos to get out on the beach a bit for some cooling off. The mouth of the Oyster River can be a bit tricky in terms of currents. So, make sure to take a bit of caution or stick a foot in there to check how heavy the pull is before letting the kids go for it.

This is where lunch comes in handy.

On the return trip, head back along the trail you came in on and turn to the left to cross the bridge talked about earlier and finish up along the Fisherman’s Trail.

There is some really interesting ground cover along this portion of the trail that lets the setting every 100 yards or so change rather noticeably and, as it’s along the river including a portion of shallow rapids, you’ll be sure to catch a glimpse of families staying at cabins across the way floating in the water and splashing.

Once you pop out onto the wider trail from here you want to turn left and head back to the parking area.

We did a bit of the ocean walk yesterday and ended up out there a solid two hours. The shorter route is about an hour.

This nature park was probably one of the most surprisingly diverse we’ve walked in a while, and the tiny person totally dug a lengthy “Queen of the Elves” adventure that took up most of our morning and imagination.

We even had a fun lesson in grass chewing, always a hit with the preschool crowd.

It’s tick season. So, hats and pants tucked into socks are a solid precaution. Also, bring lots of water as the sun is draining, even with the lovely ocean breeze to keep things balmy.

I’m so excited to take the NeighbourWood Walk crew out here for some serious exploration on Wednesday.

Hope you are enjoying your Sunday and another gorgeous Summer weekend.